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1978 Mercury 70hp Worth Messing With?

B

Berdink

Member
Assuming it has good compression. Assuming it runs and has a good lower unit.
Is it worth keeping?
It looks like parts are a little hard to come by than my Johnson.
 
I'll do a compression test and then check the spark with a 3/8" gap spark tester tomorrow. Then I'll remove the old fuel lines and see if I can run fresh fuel lines to the carburetor and see if it'll start.
 
Be wary of this motor, do a compression test before you do anything. This engine had a habit of frying #1 piston due to marginal cooling issues.
 
Thanks, it has around 130 on all three. I need to verify the health of the lower unit. Then clean up some of the corroded wiring. Currently it's missing spark on #2. I'll switch 1 with 2 and see if it's just the coil.
But if it has a good lower unit and just a bad coil, then I feel like I can go the next step and swap out all the fuel lines for new, clean the carbs and see if will run.
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It'll be maybe a couple months before I get that far.
I'll post back my progress.
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But I'm thinking with as good as compression it has, if the lower unit is good, it's worth getting it running. It appears everything to freshen it up is available and reasonably priced. And all the ignition parts are available new if anything is needed.
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